WEBVTT

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 Good morning, church.

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 Our sermon text today is from Nehemiah, chapter 13, verses 4 through 30.

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 That's page 380 in the Pew Bible.

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 Let me encourage you to turn there with me.

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 So we've come to the end of our sermon series this summer on the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

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 And these books have told the story of how God rebuilt the ruins of his rebellious people,

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 this people that he loves.

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 It tells how he brought them home from exile and how he reestablished them in their land.

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 The end of chapter 12 and the first four verses of chapter 13,

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 they show how the people after the rededication ceremony of the rebuilt wall around Jerusalem

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 responded with great enthusiasm to the word of God.

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 And now we're going to see how Nehemiah's account ends.

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 What is the final word to us from these powerful books?

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 So let me pray for us, and then we'll begin reading at verse 4.

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 God, we have just sung that you would speak to us, that you would open up the eyes of our hearts,

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 that you would open up our spiritual ears,

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 so that we might hear what your spirit is saying to us, your church.

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 God, would you do that now as we come to this final chapter of the book of Nehemiah?

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 Lord, help us to really hear the message for us that you have.

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 Help us to see Christ more clearly this morning, Father.

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 Help us to love him and be renewed in our desire to serve him and enjoy him.

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 We pray this in the name of Christ.

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 Amen.

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 Nehemiah 13, starting with verse 4.

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 Now, before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God

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 and who was related to Tobiah, prepared for Tobiah a large chamber

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 where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels,

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 and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites,

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 singers and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.

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 While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem,

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 for in the 32nd year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, I went to the king.

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 And after some time, I asked leave of the king and came to Jerusalem.

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 And I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah,

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 preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

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 And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber.

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 Then I gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers,

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 and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God

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 with the grain offering and the frankincense.

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 I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them,

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 so that the Levites and the singers who did the work had fled each to his field.

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 So I confronted the officials and said,

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 Why is the house of God forsaken?

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 And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.

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 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses,

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 and I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shalamiah the priest,

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 Zadok the scribe, and Padaiah of the Levites,

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 and as their assistant Hanan, the son of Zachor, son of Mataniah,

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 for they were considered reliable,

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 and their duty was to distribute to their brothers.

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 Remember me, O my God, concerning this,

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 and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God

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 and for his service.

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 In those days, I saw in Judah people treading wine presses on the Sabbath

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 and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys

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 and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads

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 which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.

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 And I warned them on the day when they sold food.

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 Tyrians also who lived in the city brought in fish and all kinds of goods

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 and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem itself.

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 Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them,

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 what is this evil thing that you are doing profaning the Sabbath day?

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 Did not your fathers act in this way?

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 And did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city?

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 Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.

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 As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath,

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 I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders

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 that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath.

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 And I stationed some of my servants at the gates

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 that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day.

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 Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.

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 But I warned them and said to them, why do you lodge outside the wall?

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 If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.

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 From that time on, they did not come on the Sabbath.

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 Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves

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 and come and guard the gates to keep the Sabbath day holy.

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 Remember this also in my favor, O my God,

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 and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.

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 In those days, I also saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

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 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod,

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 and they could not speak the language of Judah,

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 but only the language of each people.

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 And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them

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 and pulled out their hair.

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 And I made them take an oath in the name of God,

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 saying, you shall not give your daughters to their sons

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 or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

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 Did not Solomon, king of Israel, sin on account of such women?

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 And among the many nations, there was no king like him,

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 and he was beloved by his God,

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 and God made him king over all Israel.

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 Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.

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 Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil

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 and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?

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 And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib, the high priest,

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 was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite.

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 Therefore, I chased him from me.

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 Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood

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 and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

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 Thus, I cleansed them from everything foreign,

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 and I established the duties of the priests and the Levites,

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 each in his work,

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 and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times

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 for the firstfruits.

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 Remember me, O my God, for good.

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 Semper reformanda.

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 It's a Latin phrase that means always reforming

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 or always being reformed.

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 Apparently, the origin of the phrase comes from 1674

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 from a Dutch pastor named Jockadus van Lodenstein.

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 Not a name you hear much today, but a pretty great name,

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 Jockadus van Lodenstein.

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 And what Lodenstein saw in the church of his day

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 was that after the great spiritual advances and victories

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 of the Reformation of the 16th century

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 and after the ongoing work of the early 17th century

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 in purifying doctrine and worship in church government

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 according to God's word,

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 what van Lodenstein saw was that there was still a need

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 for reform.

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 But not a change in doctrine or in biblical ethics

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 as some would later use the slogan.

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 No, semper reformanda originally meant

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 the need for ongoing reformation of the heart.

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 That is, vital and true faith must be constantly cultivated.

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 All the externals can be in place,

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 but the human heart must always be reformed and renewed.

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 Semper reformanda.

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 In fact, perhaps you've seen this in your own life.

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 After a season of great spiritual growth,

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 of zeal and energy for the Lord,

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 after seeing God do great things in your life

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 or in the life of those around you,

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 after feeling his close presence,

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 after seeing his active hand at work,

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 there comes a time when the fire dies down

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 and some of those old patterns start to creep back in

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 and we start to settle down

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 into what one commentator called

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 another comfortable compromise with the world.

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 This is true of many periods in church history.

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 This is true of many local churches and denominations.

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 And this is true of many of our own lives.

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 Semper reformanda,

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 the need for ongoing spiritual reform.

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 But how is it done?

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 What sort of work needs to take place

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 so that we can maintain our spiritual zeal and fire?

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 What are some of the means for this ongoing work of renewal?

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 Well, this is what Nehemiah 13 is all about.

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 Remember what we've seen so far

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 in the story of Ezra and Nehemiah.

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 These books have described

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 almost 100 years of spiritual reformation and renewal.

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 There have been ups and downs, yes,

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 but consider the whole.

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 In Ezra 1 through 6,

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 the temple has been rebuilt.

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 In Ezra 7 through 10,

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 the people are brought back to the law of God.

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 And here in the book of Nehemiah,

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 the city of Jerusalem is rebuilt

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 and repopulated

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 and rededicated to God

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 and to God's word.

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 In other words,

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 at the beginning of this story,

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 the people are in exile and in shame

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 and at the end,

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 the people are home,

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 worshiping God,

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 feasting on his word,

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 celebrating his goodness,

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 watching the kingdom of God advance.

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 That sounds a lot like a revival to me.

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 Doesn't it to you?

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 But the book doesn't end there.

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 And oh,

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 how good

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 for our souls

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 that the book

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 doesn't end there.

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 The verses that we read

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 from chapter 13

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 recount actually

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 three episodes

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 that take place

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 sometime after

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 the completion

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 and the dedication

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 of the city walls.

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 You see,

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 in 433 BC,

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 that's about 12 years

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 after Nehemiah's arrival

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 in Jerusalem

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 and the rebuilding of the walls,

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 in 433 BC,

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 Nehemiah is called back

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 to the Persian king,

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 Artaxerxes.

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 We see that in verse 6

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 of chapter 13.

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 Now remember,

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 Nehemiah held a official position

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 in the imperial court,

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 so he's called back

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 at this time

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 to check in.

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 Then sometime

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 after that check in,

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 the exact amount of times

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 not to mention,

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 Nehemiah returns

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 to Jerusalem

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 sometime after 433 BC.

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 And what does Nehemiah find?

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 He finds that the people

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 are still in need of reform.

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 After all the spiritual advances

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 of the previous generations,

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 after all the spiritual advances

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 of just a few years ago,

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 the people have settled down

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 into a comfortable compromise

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 with the world.

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 The house of God

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 is being neglected

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 and even polluted

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 in verses 4 through 14.

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 The Sabbath is being ignored

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 and profaned

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 in verses 15 through 22.

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 And the people,

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 even the priests themselves,

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 are again intermarrying

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 with their non-Jewish neighbors

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 in verses 23 through 29.

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 Notice how each of these

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 three sections ends

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 with one of Nehemiah's prayer.

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 That's a sort of

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 clear literary marker

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 showing us that there are

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 sort of three sections

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 in this part of the chapter.

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 But what's worse

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 as we look at chapter 13

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 is that Nehemiah's old enemies,

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 Sanballat and Tobiah,

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 if you've been here this summer,

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 you'll recognize those names.

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 They're the very ones

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 who oppose the rebuilding

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 of the walls

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 who threatened

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 and mocked the people

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 and here they are

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 implicated

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 in the very backsliding

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 of the people.

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 Tobiah's been given

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 his own very large chamber

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 right in the courts

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 of the house of God,

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 a chamber that's meant

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 to store offerings

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 and other supplies

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 for the ongoing temple worship.

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 And on top of that,

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 one of the high priest's grandsons

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 is married

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 to the daughter of Sanballat,

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 Nehemiah's arch enemy

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 and the primary antagonist

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 during the reconstruction project.

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 Nehemiah's enemies

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 gotten the last laugh

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 after all.

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 You have to admit,

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 it is a strange ending

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 to the book.

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 But it's the ending

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 our hearts actually need.

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 We need to know

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 that the work of reform

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 doesn't end.

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 Even after great

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 spiritual advances,

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 the church must always

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 be reformed in heart.

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 So what are the means

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 of this ongoing reform

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 that we need?

00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:54.759
 There are three

00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:55.939
 that we see here

00:12:55.939 --> 00:12:56.899
 in Nehemiah 13.

00:12:57.479 --> 00:12:58.639
 The first means

00:12:58.639 --> 00:12:59.479
 of ongoing reform

00:12:59.479 --> 00:13:00.139
 that we see here

00:13:00.139 --> 00:13:00.860
 is the need

00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:02.919
 for ongoing correction.

00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:05.459
 Ongoing correction.

00:13:05.839 --> 00:13:07.039
 In each of these three episodes

00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:07.879
 in chapter 13,

00:13:08.219 --> 00:13:09.099
 Nehemiah has to do

00:13:09.099 --> 00:13:10.559
 a work of confrontation.

00:13:11.319 --> 00:13:12.039
 Notice that word

00:13:12.039 --> 00:13:13.120
 repeated in verse 11

00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:14.539
 and in verse 17

00:13:14.539 --> 00:13:15.939
 and again in verse 25.

00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:18.059
 You see,

00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:18.779
 our hearts

00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:20.259
 are kind of like ships

00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:21.259
 out on the water

00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:23.199
 and when we stop rowing,

00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:24.000
 what happens?

00:13:24.079 --> 00:13:25.379
 We don't stay in one place.

00:13:25.459 --> 00:13:25.639
 No,

00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:26.379
 we drift.

00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:28.659
 But the funny thing is

00:13:28.659 --> 00:13:29.820
 we never seem to drift

00:13:29.820 --> 00:13:30.840
 in the right direction,

00:13:30.939 --> 00:13:31.279
 do we?

00:13:31.939 --> 00:13:32.840
 We always drift

00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:33.679
 towards the rocks

00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:34.480
 and we always drift

00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:35.279
 toward the shoals

00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:36.460
 that threaten to sink us.

00:13:38.439 --> 00:13:39.639
 But godly correction

00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:39.960
 you see

00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:41.080
 is like a coast guard boat

00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:42.639
 coming alongside us

00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:43.439
 for our own good

00:13:43.439 --> 00:13:44.559
 with an air horn

00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:45.659
 or a megaphone

00:13:45.659 --> 00:13:46.659
 to wake us up

00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:47.820
 and to show us

00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:48.779
 the danger we're in.

00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:51.320
 Now,

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:51.879
 no one likes

00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:52.679
 being corrected,

00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:53.240
 of course.

00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:54.080
 It's uncomfortable.

00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:55.840
 Sometimes it's embarrassing.

00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:57.480
 It hurts our pride.

00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:58.759
 But ultimately,

00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:00.860
 we need it.

00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:02.939
 We need a spiritual megaphone

00:14:02.939 --> 00:14:03.700
 every once in a while

00:14:03.700 --> 00:14:04.539
 to wake us up

00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:06.159
 and get us out of our drift.

00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:09.360
 Now,

00:14:09.419 --> 00:14:10.360
 consider the three areas

00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:11.580
 where Nehemiah's contemporaries

00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:13.019
 needed ongoing correction.

00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:14.480
 First,

00:14:14.659 --> 00:14:16.019
 when it came to the house of God.

00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:17.299
 That's verses 4 through 14.

00:14:18.820 --> 00:14:19.259
 Now,

00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:21.860
 not only has Tobiah,

00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:24.039
 a non-Jewish official

00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:25.639
 from one of the surrounding nations,

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.939
 one of the surrounding territories,

00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:28.659
 been given his own room

00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:30.159
 right in the temple complex,

00:14:31.100 --> 00:14:32.080
 but the Levites,

00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:33.399
 the ones who carried out

00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:34.259
 the daily tasks

00:14:34.259 --> 00:14:35.559
 of maintaining the temple,

00:14:35.819 --> 00:14:36.360
 they're forced

00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:37.860
 to leave their posts of ministry

00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:39.059
 to go out into the fields

00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:40.500
 to farm and defend for themselves

00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.679
 because the tithes

00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:42.340
 and the offerings

00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:43.939
 aren't being administered properly.

00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:45.699
 In other words,

00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:46.740
 the officials and the people

00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:47.879
 have become so careless

00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:49.159
 when it came to maintaining

00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:50.480
 the right worship of God

00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:51.620
 that the temple

00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:52.399
 is being given over

00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:53.220
 to godless men

00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:54.139
 and the ministers

00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:54.960
 are forced to fend

00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:55.519
 for themselves.

00:14:58.759 --> 00:14:59.720
 What about us?

00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:03.279
 I wonder, friend,

00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:03.920
 for the sake

00:15:03.920 --> 00:15:05.600
 of ongoing renewal,

00:15:05.779 --> 00:15:06.960
 for the sake of maintaining

00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:08.560
 your spiritual fire,

00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:10.080
 are you willing

00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:11.000
 to be confronted,

00:15:11.320 --> 00:15:12.080
 to be corrected

00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:13.860
 in how you treat

00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:14.820
 and maintain

00:15:14.820 --> 00:15:16.139
 the worship of God today?

00:15:18.680 --> 00:15:19.759
 Think about the issues

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.559
 with Tobiah

00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:22.159
 in verses 4 through 9.

00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:24.480
 Now, giving Tobiah

00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:25.740
 a spare chamber

00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.399
 in the temple

00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:27.620
 was probably justified

00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:28.960
 in the minds of people

00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:29.840
 like Eliashib

00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:30.799
 and the other priests

00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:32.779
 because, after all,

00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:35.080
 Tobiah was a powerful person

00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:37.220
 in local politics.

00:15:38.319 --> 00:15:39.000
 He was a local

00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:39.819
 neighboring official,

00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:40.860
 someone who could pull

00:15:40.860 --> 00:15:42.340
 some strings if need be.

00:15:42.439 --> 00:15:43.819
 He was already intermarried

00:15:43.819 --> 00:15:45.139
 to some important families.

00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:46.779
 He had connections.

00:15:46.939 --> 00:15:47.580
 He had influence.

00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:49.080
 And it's always good

00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:50.080
 to have someone like that

00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:50.920
 in your corner, right?

00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:53.200
 Why not let him

00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:54.280
 set up shop in the temple?

00:15:58.680 --> 00:15:59.680
 Sadly, many Christians

00:15:59.680 --> 00:16:00.960
 can think similarly today.

00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:04.120
 Why not let a public official

00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:05.000
 come and promote

00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:05.960
 his or her campaign

00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:06.580
 in the church?

00:16:07.180 --> 00:16:08.060
 It's good to have someone

00:16:08.060 --> 00:16:09.300
 like that in your corner, right?

00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:13.740
 Or maybe another way

00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:14.340
 we do this,

00:16:14.780 --> 00:16:15.140
 we say,

00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:16.620
 let's just look the other way

00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:17.600
 when it comes to

00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:18.860
 so-and-so church member.

00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:20.960
 Yes, his or her life

00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:22.899
 isn't really that Christ-like,

00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:24.100
 but they do give a lot of money

00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:24.779
 to the church

00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:25.960
 and they are pretty powerful

00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:26.779
 in the community,

00:16:26.779 --> 00:16:28.720
 so we don't want to offend them.

00:16:29.560 --> 00:16:30.720
 They might go somewhere else.

00:16:35.060 --> 00:16:36.879
 But woe to us, friends,

00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:39.000
 if we think the God

00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:40.179
 of the universe,

00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:42.060
 the Lord of hosts,

00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:43.799
 needs a Tobiah

00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:45.259
 to sit in his house,

00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:46.559
 no matter how powerful

00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:47.159
 they might be

00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:48.039
 in the world's eyes,

00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:49.360
 in order to protect

00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:50.039
 and preserve

00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:51.159
 and advance his kingdom

00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:51.819
 in the world.

00:16:57.200 --> 00:16:58.279
 But what about the issue

00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:59.700
 of administering the tithes

00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:01.000
 in verses 10 through 13?

00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:03.000
 This is perhaps

00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:04.160
 even more unnerving

00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:04.960
 for us today.

00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:06.359
 Are we willing

00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:07.039
 to have someone

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.859
 confront us

00:17:07.859 --> 00:17:08.799
 on how we use

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.660
 our finances

00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:10.759
 for kingdom work?

00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:13.839
 Are you willing

00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:14.799
 to be corrected

00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.579
 when it comes

00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.500
 to your money?

00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:18.059
 Ouch.

00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:22.279
 Now, let me say

00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:22.819
 that the pastors

00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:23.660
 and elders at Trinity

00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:24.539
 don't see

00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:25.299
 how much

00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:27.059
 individual members give.

00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:30.140
 But if a friend

00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:30.960
 were to confront you

00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:31.879
 on how much you gave

00:17:31.879 --> 00:17:32.779
 to the local church,

00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:33.640
 the kingdom work,

00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:34.920
 to supporting the poor,

00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:36.619
 how would you respond?

00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:39.379
 Jesus says

00:17:39.379 --> 00:17:40.559
 that where your treasure is,

00:17:41.219 --> 00:17:42.119
 there your heart will be.

00:17:42.419 --> 00:17:43.099
 It's very interesting.

00:17:43.239 --> 00:17:44.179
 We often look at that verse

00:17:44.179 --> 00:17:44.579
 and say,

00:17:44.699 --> 00:17:45.319
 where your heart is,

00:17:45.379 --> 00:17:46.299
 there your treasure goes.

00:17:47.719 --> 00:17:48.839
 Not what Jesus says.

00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:49.639
 He says,

00:17:49.699 --> 00:17:50.519
 where your treasure is,

00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.879
 that's where your heart goes.

00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:55.739
 Would you welcome

00:17:55.739 --> 00:17:57.179
 this kind of correction?

00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:00.899
 Now, I will say

00:18:00.899 --> 00:18:01.759
 that God has always

00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:03.179
 provided financially

00:18:03.179 --> 00:18:04.479
 for what this church needs.

00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:06.740
 and God has consistently

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.860
 raised up deacons

00:18:07.860 --> 00:18:08.640
 and staff

00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:09.799
 who can administer

00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:11.240
 those finances faithfully.

00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:12.400
 So let me say,

00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.180
 I am thankful

00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:13.980
 for those of you

00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:15.220
 who collect and count

00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:15.880
 on Sundays

00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:17.099
 and those of you

00:18:17.099 --> 00:18:18.180
 who budget and plan

00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:19.120
 and do our accounting

00:18:19.120 --> 00:18:20.019
 and keep our records

00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:20.519
 up to date

00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:21.980
 and pay our bills on time.

00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:22.940
 It may not feel

00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:23.819
 like spiritual work,

00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:24.640
 but it is

00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:25.819
 and we are grateful for you.

00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:26.779
 Thank you for the work

00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.299
 that you do.

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:29.680
 Pastor Matt

00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:30.980
 may be able to farm

00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:31.920
 and fend for himself.

00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:32.860
 I'm not sure

00:18:32.860 --> 00:18:33.700
 I could do that.

00:18:35.120 --> 00:18:35.860
 I'm just kidding.

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.599
 Actually, I'm not kidding.

00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.579
 I kill most of the things

00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:40.019
 I plant.

00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:44.180
 Thank you for your labors

00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:45.019
 for the kingdom of God,

00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:46.680
 deacons, ushers,

00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:47.740
 all of you

00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.720
 who care for the finances,

00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:49.200
 those of you

00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:50.079
 who give faithfully.

00:18:50.860 --> 00:18:52.099
 We are grateful for you.

00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:52.900
 The kingdom of God

00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:54.240
 is advancing because of you.

00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:57.400
 But may all of us

00:18:57.400 --> 00:18:58.500
 be open to correction

00:18:58.500 --> 00:18:59.620
 in how we provide

00:18:59.620 --> 00:19:01.000
 financially for kingdom work.

00:19:01.380 --> 00:19:02.360
 Let us be open

00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:03.479
 to being corrected

00:19:03.479 --> 00:19:04.979
 on how we treat

00:19:04.979 --> 00:19:05.639
 and maintain

00:19:05.639 --> 00:19:06.679
 the worship of God.

00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.159
 That's Nehemiah's

00:19:09.159 --> 00:19:09.899
 first correction.

00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:11.099
 But second,

00:19:11.199 --> 00:19:12.359
 in verses 15 through 22,

00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:13.419
 he corrects them

00:19:13.419 --> 00:19:14.399
 with regard to the Sabbath.

00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:15.699
 Now,

00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.459
 in the Old Testament,

00:19:16.659 --> 00:19:17.319
 God commanded

00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:18.119
 the people of Israel

00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:19.139
 to stop working

00:19:19.139 --> 00:19:19.799
 on the seventh day

00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:20.259
 of the week

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:22.019
 so that they could remember

00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:23.459
 God alone

00:19:23.459 --> 00:19:24.439
 as their creator

00:19:24.439 --> 00:19:25.259
 and their redeemer.

00:19:25.719 --> 00:19:26.979
 So that they could know

00:19:26.979 --> 00:19:27.959
 and experience

00:19:27.959 --> 00:19:28.759
 that it wasn't

00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:29.879
 their own hands

00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:30.680
 that made them

00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:31.960
 or their own hands

00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:32.940
 that would save them,

00:19:33.060 --> 00:19:34.440
 but it was God's hands

00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:35.180
 that had made them

00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:35.960
 and it saves them.

00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:37.100
 You see,

00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:38.400
 stopping on the Sabbath day

00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:39.140
 was a gift

00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:40.460
 to help them remember

00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:42.740
 and live into that reality.

00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:45.940
 But,

00:19:46.580 --> 00:19:48.460
 come on,

00:19:48.900 --> 00:19:49.960
 not work

00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:51.980
 for a whole day?

00:19:53.540 --> 00:19:54.560
 Doesn't that make us

00:19:54.560 --> 00:19:56.380
 one-seventh less

00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:57.980
 productive and profitable?

00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:59.700
 Who wants to take

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:01.360
 a 14% pay cut?

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:02.240
 Right?

00:20:05.120 --> 00:20:06.620
 But how we use our time

00:20:06.620 --> 00:20:08.000
 is incredibly important

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:08.620
 to God.

00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:11.720
 Now,

00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:12.240
 the Old Testament

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.500
 Sabbath observance

00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:15.079
 doesn't apply

00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:16.779
 in the same exact way today

00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.519
 now that we live

00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:18.539
 in the New Testament era,

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:20.019
 now that Christ has come

00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:20.759
 who is our true

00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.640
 Sabbath rest.

00:20:22.339 --> 00:20:22.860
 However,

00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:25.099
 it has become

00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:26.500
 increasingly clear

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.119
 to me

00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:28.480
 on a personal level

00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.859
 that stopping

00:20:29.859 --> 00:20:31.259
 for one day a week

00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:32.519
 and letting God

00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:33.059
 be God

00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:34.180
 over our time

00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:35.579
 and over our labor

00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:38.000
 is a radically

00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:38.559
 important

00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.519
 spiritual discipline.

00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:42.680
 God cares

00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:43.279
 how we use

00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:43.779
 our time.

00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.079
 Are you willing

00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:47.079
 to be corrected

00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:48.039
 in how you use

00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:48.660
 your time

00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:49.240
 for God

00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:50.359
 and for others?

00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.339
 You know,

00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:52.859
 our time

00:20:52.859 --> 00:20:54.079
 is not our own.

00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:55.099
 It is all

00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:55.679
 a gift

00:20:55.679 --> 00:20:56.419
 from God.

00:20:58.079 --> 00:20:58.519
 So,

00:20:58.599 --> 00:20:59.079
 for the sake

00:20:59.079 --> 00:21:00.579
 of ongoing renewal,

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.419
 are you open

00:21:01.419 --> 00:21:02.459
 to being corrected

00:21:02.459 --> 00:21:04.279
 on how you use

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:04.859
 that gift

00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:06.000
 of God's time

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.419
 to you?

00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:10.740
 Lastly,

00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:11.179
 Nehemiah

00:21:11.179 --> 00:21:12.259
 corrects the people

00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:12.740
 when it comes

00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:13.439
 to marriage.

00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:15.519
 Now,

00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:16.079
 let's be clear.

00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:16.980
 The issue

00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:18.439
 with these marriages

00:21:18.439 --> 00:21:19.539
 in verses 23

00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:20.219
 through 29

00:21:20.219 --> 00:21:21.319
 is not

00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:22.699
 an ethnic

00:21:22.699 --> 00:21:23.679
 or racial issue.

00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:25.380
 it is a religious

00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:26.620
 or spiritual issue.

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.120
 In other words,

00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:28.820
 the reason God

00:21:28.820 --> 00:21:29.420
 told his people

00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:30.060
 in the Old Testament

00:21:30.060 --> 00:21:31.560
 not to intermarry

00:21:31.560 --> 00:21:32.400
 with the surrounding

00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:32.880
 nations

00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:33.920
 was not because

00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:34.539
 they were different

00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:35.180
 racially,

00:21:35.340 --> 00:21:36.060
 but because they

00:21:36.060 --> 00:21:36.440
 were different

00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:37.220
 spiritually,

00:21:37.620 --> 00:21:38.279
 because they

00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:38.980
 didn't worship

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.539
 the Lord,

00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:40.519
 the one true God.

00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:41.860
 In fact,

00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:42.580
 if anyone

00:21:42.580 --> 00:21:43.100
 from among

00:21:43.100 --> 00:21:43.640
 those nations

00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.779
 became a worshiper

00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:45.299
 of the Lord,

00:21:45.360 --> 00:21:46.039
 if they joined

00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.880
 the covenant community,

00:21:47.100 --> 00:21:47.820
 they were considered

00:21:47.820 --> 00:21:48.500
 full members.

00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:49.960
 Consider Ruth.

00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:51.640
 She was a Moabite.

00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:53.820
 And she took

00:21:53.820 --> 00:21:54.160
 the Lord

00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:54.759
 as her God.

00:21:55.600 --> 00:21:56.460
 And so Boaz,

00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:58.080
 a faithful Israelite,

00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.200
 was free

00:21:59.200 --> 00:21:59.980
 to marry her.

00:22:02.020 --> 00:22:02.720
 So at the end

00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.020
 of the day,

00:22:03.100 --> 00:22:03.920
 God does not

00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.820
 forbid what we

00:22:04.820 --> 00:22:05.220
 would call

00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:06.300
 interracial marriage

00:22:06.300 --> 00:22:06.620
 today.

00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:07.180
 That's not what

00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:07.640
 these verses

00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:08.080
 are about.

00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:08.980
 God is fine

00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:09.259
 with that.

00:22:09.340 --> 00:22:10.120
 God created us

00:22:10.120 --> 00:22:10.800
 in all of our

00:22:10.800 --> 00:22:11.200
 diversity

00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:12.220
 and he celebrates

00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:12.680
 it.

00:22:13.520 --> 00:22:14.340
 But what God

00:22:14.340 --> 00:22:15.560
 does not desire

00:22:15.560 --> 00:22:17.380
 is marriage

00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:18.259
 between a believer

00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:20.060
 and a non-believer.

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:21.919
 that's what

00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:22.720
 verses 23

00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.519
 through 29

00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:24.240
 are all about.

00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.099
 Now,

00:22:27.159 --> 00:22:27.559
 why is God

00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.159
 so adamant

00:22:28.159 --> 00:22:28.639
 that believers

00:22:28.639 --> 00:22:29.139
 not marry

00:22:29.139 --> 00:22:29.759
 a non-believer?

00:22:31.139 --> 00:22:31.579
 Well,

00:22:31.659 --> 00:22:32.059
 consider the

00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:32.679
 spiritual effect

00:22:32.679 --> 00:22:33.240
 on the couple.

00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:35.980
 Believers are

00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:36.700
 meant to love

00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:37.720
 God with all

00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.200
 our heart,

00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:38.639
 soul,

00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:39.039
 mind,

00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:39.659
 and strength.

00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:42.079
 But imagine

00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:42.619
 being married

00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:43.159
 to a person

00:22:43.159 --> 00:22:43.619
 who cannot

00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:44.179
 look into

00:22:44.179 --> 00:22:44.700
 your heart,

00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:45.139
 into your

00:22:45.139 --> 00:22:45.700
 very self,

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.460
 and love

00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:46.960
 what you

00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:47.500
 love.

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:51.500
 Isn't that

00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.000
 the very thing

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.519
 we're looking

00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:53.859
 for in marriage

00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:54.380
 at the end

00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:54.880
 of the day?

00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.220
 For someone

00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:57.599
 to be able

00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:58.299
 to look into

00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:59.640
 us and to

00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:00.259
 love what we

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:00.660
 love,

00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.079
 and in so

00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.339
 doing,

00:23:02.420 --> 00:23:03.099
 to love us.

00:23:06.859 --> 00:23:07.279
 Inevitably,

00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:07.900
 such a marriage

00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:08.640
 between a believer

00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:09.559
 and a non-believer,

00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:11.039
 in such a marriage

00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:11.460
 either the

00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:12.359
 believing spouse

00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:13.180
 will drift away

00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:13.859
 from Jesus,

00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.500
 or the couple

00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:16.220
 will drift away

00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:16.900
 from each other,

00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:19.460
 there are

00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:19.880
 exceptions,

00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:20.240
 yes,

00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:20.619
 but they are

00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:21.200
 very few

00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:22.000
 and very far

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.420
 between.

00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:25.279
 Nehemiah says,

00:23:25.380 --> 00:23:25.819
 consider the

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:26.339
 example of

00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:26.720
 Solomon.

00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:28.299
 If Solomon,

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.240
 God's chosen

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:29.920
 and beloved

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.480
 king,

00:23:30.900 --> 00:23:31.579
 had his heart

00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.039
 pulled away

00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:32.599
 from God

00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:33.240
 in this way,

00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:33.779
 what makes

00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:34.180
 you think

00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:35.059
 you are

00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:35.720
 the exception?

00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.279
 But in

00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:40.640
 Nehemiah,

00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.079
 it's not just

00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:41.440
 the effect

00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:41.960
 on the couple,

00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:42.519
 but also

00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:43.200
 on the children

00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:44.180
 that is highlighted.

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.740
 In verse 24,

00:23:45.900 --> 00:23:46.680
 half of the children

00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:47.279
 born to these

00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:47.899
 families cannot

00:23:47.899 --> 00:23:48.460
 speak the

00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:48.940
 language of

00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:49.220
 Judah.

00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:51.359
 In other words,

00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:52.079
 they're losing

00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:52.879
 their spiritual

00:23:52.879 --> 00:23:53.619
 heritage.

00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:57.680
 All that the

00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:58.059
 people had

00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:58.779
 gained spiritually

00:23:58.779 --> 00:23:59.440
 in their return

00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:00.139
 from the exile

00:24:00.139 --> 00:24:00.539
 and in their

00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:01.319
 reestablishment

00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:01.819
 in the land

00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:02.480
 was now

00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:03.039
 threatened to

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.599
 be lost

00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:04.379
 in a single

00:24:04.379 --> 00:24:05.059
 generation,

00:24:05.899 --> 00:24:06.639
 a generation

00:24:06.639 --> 00:24:07.359
 who could no

00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:08.180
 longer take up

00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:08.839
 the praise of

00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:09.700
 God and the

00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.420
 prayer of God

00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:11.259
 and the word

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:11.799
 of God.

00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:14.299
 Nehemiah

00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:14.980
 confronts

00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.220
 them.

00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.119
 How about

00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:20.259
 it,

00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:20.500
 friend?

00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:22.259
 Are you

00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:22.639
 willing to

00:24:22.639 --> 00:24:23.299
 be confronted

00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:24.359
 when it

00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:25.740
 comes to

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.019
 who you

00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:26.399
 marry,

00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:28.299
 to who

00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:28.859
 you date?

00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:33.960
 For the

00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:34.299
 sake of

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:34.700
 spiritual

00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.099
 renewal,

00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:35.819
 for spiritual

00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:36.579
 survival,

00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:37.819
 are you

00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:38.220
 open to

00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:38.680
 that kind

00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:39.079
 of loving

00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:39.619
 correction

00:24:39.619 --> 00:24:40.000
 when it

00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:40.459
 comes to

00:24:40.459 --> 00:24:40.679
 your

00:24:40.679 --> 00:24:41.339
 relationships?

00:24:45.379 --> 00:24:46.019
 And so,

00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:46.599
 taking a step

00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:47.119
 back now,

00:24:47.179 --> 00:24:47.679
 we see that

00:24:47.679 --> 00:24:47.979
 we need

00:24:47.979 --> 00:24:48.299
 ongoing

00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:48.819
 correction.

00:24:49.439 --> 00:24:49.979
 In our

00:24:49.979 --> 00:24:50.479
 approach to

00:24:50.479 --> 00:24:50.919
 worship and

00:24:50.919 --> 00:24:51.399
 finances,

00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:52.079
 in our

00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:52.479
 approach to

00:24:52.479 --> 00:24:52.899
 work and

00:24:52.899 --> 00:24:53.119
 our use

00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:53.659
 of time,

00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.179
 in our

00:24:54.179 --> 00:24:54.579
 approach to

00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.059
 marriage and

00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:55.579
 relationships,

00:24:55.719 --> 00:24:56.179
 in each of

00:24:56.179 --> 00:24:56.679
 these areas,

00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.279
 Nehemiah's

00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:57.819
 contemporaries

00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:58.519
 had lost

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.079
 their God

00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.839
 centeredness.

00:25:01.419 --> 00:25:01.779
 You see,

00:25:01.939 --> 00:25:02.539
 money and

00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:03.259
 time and

00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.779
 sex and

00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:04.059
 marriage,

00:25:04.139 --> 00:25:04.859
 these are not

00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:05.719
 separated from

00:25:05.719 --> 00:25:06.179
 our spiritual

00:25:06.179 --> 00:25:06.539
 life.

00:25:06.939 --> 00:25:07.579
 All of our

00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:08.000
 life is

00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.339
 worship.

00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:09.679
 God wants

00:25:09.679 --> 00:25:10.359
 our whole

00:25:10.359 --> 00:25:10.939
 life to

00:25:10.939 --> 00:25:11.279
 bring him

00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:11.779
 praise.

00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:12.819
 Even the

00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.159
 seemingly

00:25:13.159 --> 00:25:14.179
 non-spiritual

00:25:14.179 --> 00:25:14.859
 or ordinary

00:25:14.859 --> 00:25:15.399
 parts of

00:25:15.399 --> 00:25:15.779
 our lives

00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.039
 are meant

00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:16.220
 to be

00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:16.539
 lived for

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:16.879
 him,

00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:17.299
 for his

00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:17.839
 praise.

00:25:18.899 --> 00:25:19.099
 So,

00:25:19.179 --> 00:25:19.379
 in light

00:25:19.379 --> 00:25:19.639
 of that,

00:25:19.699 --> 00:25:19.959
 are you

00:25:19.959 --> 00:25:20.639
 open to

00:25:20.639 --> 00:25:21.059
 ongoing

00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:21.599
 correction

00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:22.000
 for the

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.299
 sake of

00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:22.859
 maintaining

00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:23.159
 your

00:25:23.159 --> 00:25:23.559
 spiritual

00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:23.980
 zeal,

00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:24.559
 for the

00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:24.919
 sake of

00:25:24.919 --> 00:25:25.500
 waking

00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.139
 up from

00:25:26.139 --> 00:25:26.299
 your

00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:26.699
 drift?

00:25:29.899 --> 00:25:30.339
 Jesus

00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:30.699
 says that

00:25:30.699 --> 00:25:31.000
 spiritual

00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:31.619
 correction is

00:25:31.619 --> 00:25:32.159
 a community

00:25:32.159 --> 00:25:33.220
 project in

00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:33.899
 Matthew 18.

00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:35.859
 And it

00:25:35.859 --> 00:25:36.199
 takes a

00:25:36.199 --> 00:25:36.579
 spirit of

00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.240
 gentleness,

00:25:37.399 --> 00:25:37.959
 Paul says in

00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.720
 Galatians 6.

00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:41.579
 And some

00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:41.940
 of us,

00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:42.380
 yes,

00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:42.799
 have seen

00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:43.180
 the work

00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:43.759
 of correction

00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.720
 done very

00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.180
 poorly,

00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.819
 but even

00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:47.220
 so,

00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:49.000
 are you

00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:49.420
 open to

00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:49.660
 good,

00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:50.079
 rightful,

00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:50.420
 ongoing

00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:50.920
 correction?

00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:51.660
 Because you

00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:52.079
 need it,

00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:52.860
 and I

00:25:52.860 --> 00:25:53.279
 need it.

00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.460
 The people

00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:55.180
 in Nehemiah's

00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:55.620
 day needed

00:25:55.620 --> 00:25:55.840
 it.

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.680
 After our

00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:59.460
 great spiritual

00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.200
 advances,

00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:01.779
 the watchword

00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.759
 still has to

00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.480
 be semper

00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:04.120
 reformanda,

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.460
 always reforming,

00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:06.880
 always renewing the

00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:07.140
 heart.

00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:11.700
 But it's

00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:11.980
 not just

00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:12.259
 ongoing

00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:12.940
 correction that

00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:13.299
 we need.

00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:14.880
 The second

00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:15.259
 means of

00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:15.559
 ongoing

00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.059
 reform that

00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:16.360
 we see

00:26:16.360 --> 00:26:16.880
 here is

00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.160
 the need

00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:17.799
 for courageous

00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:18.340
 leaders.

00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:19.440
 Now,

00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:19.720
 we won't

00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.120
 spend as

00:26:20.120 --> 00:26:20.620
 much time

00:26:20.620 --> 00:26:21.019
 here as

00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.240
 on the

00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:21.779
 first point,

00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:22.680
 but it's

00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.079
 hard to

00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:23.539
 read this

00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:24.220
 chapter and

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:24.660
 not be

00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:25.559
 struck by

00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:26.200
 Nehemiah's

00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:27.400
 bold actions

00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:28.000
 and his

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.519
 honest

00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:29.019
 prayers.

00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:31.259
 Of course,

00:26:31.340 --> 00:26:31.720
 on first

00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.000
 reading,

00:26:32.120 --> 00:26:32.600
 his actions

00:26:32.600 --> 00:26:33.160
 maybe seem

00:26:33.160 --> 00:26:33.380
 a little

00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:34.079
 too bold.

00:26:34.860 --> 00:26:35.079
 In

00:26:35.079 --> 00:26:35.759
 verse 25,

00:26:35.860 --> 00:26:36.380
 he's slapping

00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:36.920
 them and pulling

00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:37.240
 out their

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:37.599
 hair.

00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:39.940
 I've never

00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:40.539
 seen that in

00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:41.259
 a how-to

00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:42.259
 pastoral manual.

00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:42.839
 I'll just let

00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:43.200
 you know.

00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:45.940
 But remember,

00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:46.779
 not everything

00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:48.200
 described in

00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:48.900
 the Bible is

00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:49.420
 meant to be an

00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:50.420
 example for us

00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:50.940
 to imitate.

00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.500
 Those actions

00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.059
 would not be

00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:53.720
 appropriate for

00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.299
 us today.

00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:54.819
 However,

00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.620
 given Nehemiah's

00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:57.299
 context,

00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:59.319
 maybe a few

00:26:59.319 --> 00:27:00.259
 ears needed to

00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:01.079
 be twisted and

00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:01.720
 a few hairs

00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.279
 pulled out,

00:27:02.359 --> 00:27:02.839
 as it were,

00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:04.920
 to wake up the

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:05.860
 drifting ship

00:27:05.860 --> 00:27:06.759
 and keep it

00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.340
 from crashing

00:27:07.340 --> 00:27:07.860
 ashore.

00:27:10.860 --> 00:27:11.340
 Again,

00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:11.640
 I'm not

00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:12.779
 advocating that

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.160
 we take the

00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:13.620
 exact same

00:27:13.620 --> 00:27:13.920
 measures,

00:27:14.060 --> 00:27:14.640
 but are we

00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.740
 willing to

00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:16.380
 be bold,

00:27:16.940 --> 00:27:18.320
 to be

00:27:18.320 --> 00:27:18.759
 courageous?

00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.460
 The church

00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:22.039
 needs leaders

00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:22.500
 who have a

00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:23.200
 God-centered

00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.900
 love,

00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:24.759
 who are

00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.220
 willing to

00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:25.779
 swim against

00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.960
 the tide and

00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:27.600
 confront when

00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:28.160
 necessary.

00:27:30.420 --> 00:27:31.160
 But it's not

00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:32.200
 just bold action,

00:27:32.320 --> 00:27:32.820
 it's also

00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.919
 honest prayer.

00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:35.240
 This chapter

00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:36.539
 is punctuated

00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.299
 by Nehemiah's

00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:38.000
 prayer life,

00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.980
 verse 14,

00:27:39.399 --> 00:27:40.119
 verse 22,

00:27:40.619 --> 00:27:41.319
 verse 29,

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:41.819
 and then it

00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:42.439
 all rounds

00:27:42.439 --> 00:27:42.939
 off in

00:27:42.939 --> 00:27:43.599
 verse 30.

00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.000
 And now,

00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:46.619
 much like his

00:27:46.619 --> 00:27:47.379
 bold actions,

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.099
 his honest

00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:48.740
 prayers can

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.279
 strike us on

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:49.599
 the first

00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:50.119
 reading as a

00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:50.539
 bit odd,

00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:51.480
 maybe even a

00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.419
 bit self-righteous.

00:27:54.659 --> 00:27:55.500
 But actually,

00:27:55.639 --> 00:27:56.259
 on closer

00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.960
 inspection,

00:27:57.139 --> 00:27:57.659
 these prayers

00:27:57.659 --> 00:27:58.419
 are just the

00:27:58.419 --> 00:27:58.899
 opposite.

00:28:00.439 --> 00:28:00.759
 Yes,

00:28:00.879 --> 00:28:01.339
 Nehemiah

00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:02.039
 prays for

00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:02.619
 God to

00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:03.619
 remember him.

00:28:05.159 --> 00:28:05.719
 But,

00:28:06.199 --> 00:28:08.099
 this prayer

00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:10.019
 springs not

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:10.779
 from a sense

00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:12.579
 of self-importance

00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:14.339
 or self-accomplishment,

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.959
 but from a sense

00:28:15.959 --> 00:28:16.639
 of humility.

00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.539
 In fact,

00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:20.219
 it's an appeal

00:28:20.219 --> 00:28:20.899
 for help.

00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:22.819
 After all,

00:28:22.879 --> 00:28:23.319
 in the Bible,

00:28:23.639 --> 00:28:24.839
 God's remembering

00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:27.739
 always implies

00:28:27.739 --> 00:28:28.500
 his intervention,

00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.399
 his action,

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.219
 his help.

00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:31.960
 God's remembering

00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.680
 is not just

00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.559
 his recollection

00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:34.000
 or his

00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.539
 recognition.

00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:37.460
 In other words,

00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:38.180
 Nehemiah in

00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:38.640
 these prayers

00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:39.420
 is committing

00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:40.700
 himself and

00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:41.339
 his cause

00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:42.160
 to the only

00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:43.059
 safe hands,

00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:43.819
 the hands of

00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.100
 God.

00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.079
 And so,

00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:47.339
 you see,

00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:47.880
 what drives

00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:48.539
 Nehemiah at the

00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.079
 end of the day

00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:50.160
 is not what

00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:51.240
 his contemporaries

00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:52.100
 think of him

00:28:52.100 --> 00:28:54.160
 or how they

00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:55.019
 might remember

00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:55.480
 him,

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:57.140
 but what God

00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:57.880
 thinks of him

00:28:57.880 --> 00:28:59.599
 and how God

00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:00.200
 might remember

00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:00.519
 him.

00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:03.620
 Nehemiah longs

00:29:03.620 --> 00:29:03.980
 at the end

00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:04.360
 of the day

00:29:04.360 --> 00:29:04.980
 to hear God

00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.220
 say,

00:29:05.360 --> 00:29:05.819
 well done,

00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:06.720
 good and

00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.420
 faithful servant.

00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:10.599
 And living

00:29:10.599 --> 00:29:11.420
 for God's

00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:11.860
 approval

00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:13.559
 rather than

00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:14.039
 the approval

00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.779
 of people

00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:16.640
 is part of

00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:17.220
 what real

00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:17.799
 spirituality

00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.779
 looks like.

00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:22.599
 So,

00:29:22.639 --> 00:29:22.980
 in the work

00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:23.579
 of ongoing

00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:24.359
 reformation,

00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:25.440
 we need not

00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:26.259
 just correction

00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:27.619
 but courageous

00:29:27.619 --> 00:29:28.059
 leaders.

00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.539
 So,

00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.079
 church family,

00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:31.879
 will you commit

00:29:31.879 --> 00:29:33.099
 to praying

00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:34.000
 for the leaders

00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:34.740
 here at Trinity

00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:36.839
 and for the

00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:38.139
 elders especially?

00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:41.160
 For our own

00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:41.899
 spiritual good,

00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.639
 for our own

00:29:42.639 --> 00:29:43.680
 ongoing renewal,

00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:44.779
 we need bold

00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:45.799
 and prayerful

00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:46.899
 pastors and

00:29:46.899 --> 00:29:47.359
 elders.

00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:47.500
 leaders,

00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:48.879
 would you pray

00:29:48.879 --> 00:29:49.319
 for them

00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:49.899
 in that work?

00:29:52.139 --> 00:29:52.919
 But also

00:29:52.919 --> 00:29:53.459
 pray for the

00:29:53.459 --> 00:29:54.659
 deacons and

00:29:54.659 --> 00:29:55.099
 for the small

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:55.619
 group leaders

00:29:55.619 --> 00:29:56.159
 and for the

00:29:56.159 --> 00:29:56.759
 ministry leaders

00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:57.279
 and volunteers

00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:58.059
 that they too

00:29:58.059 --> 00:29:58.819
 would be bold

00:29:58.819 --> 00:29:59.779
 and prayerful

00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.399
 in their work.

00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:03.579
 But also

00:30:03.579 --> 00:30:04.240
 consider your

00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:04.839
 own life.

00:30:06.919 --> 00:30:07.639
 Are you

00:30:07.639 --> 00:30:08.639
 willing to be

00:30:08.639 --> 00:30:09.719
 this kind

00:30:09.719 --> 00:30:10.399
 of courageous

00:30:10.399 --> 00:30:11.359
 leader in

00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:11.839
 your own

00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.319
 spiritual

00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:13.179
 context,

00:30:13.959 --> 00:30:15.559
 in the midst

00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:15.819
 of your

00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.339
 family,

00:30:16.339 --> 00:30:17.519
 parents,

00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:19.839
 in the midst

00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:20.099
 of your

00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:20.519
 Christian

00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:21.259
 friendships,

00:30:22.299 --> 00:30:24.299
 in the context

00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:24.599
 of your

00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:25.339
 small group?

00:30:26.459 --> 00:30:26.699
 You know,

00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.179
 each of us,

00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:27.599
 when we think

00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:27.939
 about it,

00:30:27.959 --> 00:30:28.500
 has a role

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.099
 of influence

00:30:29.099 --> 00:30:29.500
 no matter

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.279
 where we

00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:30.939
 are placed.

00:30:32.619 --> 00:30:33.399
 And sometimes

00:30:33.399 --> 00:30:34.119
 God will call

00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:34.980
 us to bold

00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.720
 action.

00:30:37.179 --> 00:30:37.939
 That doesn't

00:30:37.939 --> 00:30:38.959
 mean nitpicking

00:30:38.959 --> 00:30:40.019
 on every little

00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:40.459
 thing,

00:30:41.199 --> 00:30:42.639
 but lovingly

00:30:42.639 --> 00:30:43.480
 addressing real

00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:44.179
 issues as they

00:30:44.179 --> 00:30:44.699
 arise.

00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.819
 it's not

00:30:45.819 --> 00:30:46.100
 going to be

00:30:46.100 --> 00:30:46.460
 easy.

00:30:46.580 --> 00:30:46.819
 It will

00:30:46.819 --> 00:30:47.180
 take a

00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:47.779
 thick skin

00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:48.460
 and a

00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.100
 soft heart,

00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:49.900
 but again,

00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.740
 prayer is

00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:51.240
 the key.

00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:52.880
 Dependence

00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:53.960
 and humility

00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:54.960
 before God.

00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.519
 Living for

00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:57.340
 God's approval

00:30:57.340 --> 00:30:58.799
 more than

00:30:58.799 --> 00:30:59.460
 for the

00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.299
 approval of

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.819
 others.

00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:05.080
 So then

00:31:05.080 --> 00:31:05.380
 the need

00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:05.920
 for ongoing

00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:06.660
 reform takes

00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:06.980
 ongoing

00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:08.279
 correction and

00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:08.640
 courageous

00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:09.120
 leadership,

00:31:10.120 --> 00:31:11.259
 but that's

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:11.640
 not all.

00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:14.440
 We actually

00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:14.920
 need more

00:31:14.920 --> 00:31:15.259
 than just

00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:15.920
 correction and

00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:16.579
 godly leaders.

00:31:17.299 --> 00:31:17.519
 Because,

00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:17.640
 you know,

00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:18.200
 if we stopped

00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:18.559
 there,

00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:19.740
 we'd be merely

00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:20.539
 talking about

00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:21.559
 outside-in

00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:22.240
 chains,

00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:23.019
 trying to

00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:23.480
 continue to

00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:23.879
 go from the

00:31:23.879 --> 00:31:24.579
 outside to

00:31:24.579 --> 00:31:25.000
 the in.

00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:26.759
 And we

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.359
 need more

00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:28.319
 than just an

00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:29.259
 outside-in

00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:29.720
 kind of

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.319
 change.

00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:31.579
 We need a

00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:32.039
 change,

00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:32.539
 we need a

00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:33.160
 renewal that

00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:33.599
 can happen

00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:34.000
 from the

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.879
 inside out.

00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:35.379
 We need a

00:31:35.379 --> 00:31:35.759
 way to

00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.160
 stoke the

00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:36.700
 fire from

00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:37.220
 the inside.

00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:37.400
 inside.

00:31:40.100 --> 00:31:40.880
 And what

00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:41.620
 Nehemiah 13

00:31:41.620 --> 00:31:42.519
 ultimately

00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:43.279
 shows us

00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:45.299
 is just

00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:45.620
 that.

00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:47.600
 What this

00:31:47.600 --> 00:31:48.420
 chapter points

00:31:48.420 --> 00:31:49.680
 us to is

00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:51.160
 a need for

00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:52.360
 nothing less

00:31:52.360 --> 00:31:53.480
 than a new

00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.880
 covenant and

00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:55.640
 a new heart.

00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:57.759
 Now,

00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:58.140
 here's what you

00:31:58.140 --> 00:31:58.680
 have to see.

00:31:59.059 --> 00:31:59.759
 These three

00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:00.360
 areas that

00:32:00.360 --> 00:32:00.819
 Nehemiah

00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:01.360
 corrects in

00:32:01.360 --> 00:32:02.059
 chapter 13,

00:32:02.860 --> 00:32:03.299
 they are the

00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:04.380
 very three

00:32:04.380 --> 00:32:05.279
 areas that in

00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:06.240
 chapter 10,

00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:07.200
 the people

00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:07.640
 took a

00:32:07.640 --> 00:32:08.960
 solemn oath

00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:09.700
 to uphold

00:32:09.700 --> 00:32:10.460
 as they

00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:11.059
 renewed their

00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:11.620
 covenant with

00:32:11.620 --> 00:32:11.920
 God.

00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:12.620
 The covenant,

00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:13.380
 that is the

00:32:13.380 --> 00:32:14.319
 terms of the

00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:15.339
 relationship that

00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:16.000
 God established

00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.599
 at Sinai.

00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:17.240
 In chapter 10,

00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:17.599
 they said,

00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:18.339
 we're going to

00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:18.660
 do it.

00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:21.059
 And you

00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:21.380
 remember,

00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:21.779
 just a few

00:32:21.779 --> 00:32:22.240
 chapters ago,

00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:22.759
 just two weeks

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:22.960
 ago,

00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:23.960
 what were the

00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:24.839
 principal things

00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:25.420
 they promised

00:32:25.420 --> 00:32:25.940
 to uphold

00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:26.359
 from that

00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:26.660
 covenant?

00:32:27.140 --> 00:32:27.500
 Who they

00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:27.859
 married,

00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:29.579
 observing the

00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:29.839
 Sabbath,

00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:31.000
 and taking

00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.660
 care of God's

00:32:31.660 --> 00:32:31.960
 house.

00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:33.099
 We're going

00:32:33.099 --> 00:32:33.599
 to do it,

00:32:33.640 --> 00:32:34.039
 they say.

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:38.140
 But despite

00:32:38.140 --> 00:32:38.740
 their best

00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:39.279
 intentions,

00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:39.779
 the people

00:32:39.779 --> 00:32:40.579
 cannot keep

00:32:40.579 --> 00:32:41.000
 their end of

00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:41.420
 the covenant.

00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:42.839
 In a little

00:32:42.839 --> 00:32:43.660
 over a decade,

00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:44.420
 the same

00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:45.180
 generation who

00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:45.940
 was vowing

00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:46.819
 their utmost

00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:47.960
 obedience will

00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:48.599
 be breaking

00:32:48.599 --> 00:32:49.299
 the very

00:32:49.299 --> 00:32:50.059
 commands that

00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:50.720
 they swore

00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.279
 to uphold.

00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:53.880
 After all,

00:32:53.940 --> 00:32:54.200
 what are the

00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:54.700
 failures of

00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:55.400
 chapter 13?

00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:56.519
 Who they

00:32:56.519 --> 00:32:56.819
 marry,

00:32:57.640 --> 00:32:58.180
 observing the

00:32:58.180 --> 00:32:58.440
 Sabbath,

00:32:59.279 --> 00:32:59.779
 and taking

00:32:59.779 --> 00:33:00.519
 care of God's

00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:00.819
 house.

00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:03.899
 we need

00:33:03.899 --> 00:33:04.220
 ongoing

00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:04.700
 correction,

00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.240
 yes.

00:33:05.399 --> 00:33:05.799
 We need

00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:06.179
 courageous

00:33:06.179 --> 00:33:06.700
 leaders who

00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:07.200
 will provide

00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:07.359
 it,

00:33:07.539 --> 00:33:07.779
 yes.

00:33:07.980 --> 00:33:08.519
 But above

00:33:08.519 --> 00:33:08.859
 all,

00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:10.639
 we need a

00:33:10.639 --> 00:33:11.099
 new covenant,

00:33:11.720 --> 00:33:12.480
 and we need

00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.039
 a new heart.

00:33:14.419 --> 00:33:14.779
 And you see,

00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:15.759
 Nehemiah 13 is

00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:16.819
 like this beacon

00:33:16.819 --> 00:33:18.220
 pulsing at the

00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:19.079
 end of Old

00:33:19.079 --> 00:33:19.799
 Testament history.

00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:20.539
 This is the

00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:21.859
 last piece of

00:33:21.859 --> 00:33:22.799
 history written

00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:23.339
 in the Old

00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:23.679
 Testament.

00:33:23.879 --> 00:33:24.439
 This is how

00:33:24.439 --> 00:33:25.259
 the story ends,

00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:25.919
 right here.

00:33:26.839 --> 00:33:27.740
 And here it is,

00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.919
 just beaming

00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:29.680
 out,

00:33:30.060 --> 00:33:31.080
 crying out

00:33:31.080 --> 00:33:31.900
 for God

00:33:31.900 --> 00:33:32.980
 to remember,

00:33:33.660 --> 00:33:34.300
 and to remember

00:33:34.300 --> 00:33:34.940
 not just

00:33:34.940 --> 00:33:35.600
 Nehemiah,

00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:36.560
 but for God

00:33:36.560 --> 00:33:37.080
 to remember

00:33:37.080 --> 00:33:37.620
 his own

00:33:37.620 --> 00:33:38.300
 promise to

00:33:38.300 --> 00:33:39.160
 do something

00:33:39.160 --> 00:33:39.660
 that his

00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.500
 people couldn't

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:40.920
 do.

00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:44.180
 Do you

00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:44.880
 remember Jeremiah

00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:45.620
 in those years

00:33:45.620 --> 00:33:46.200
 leading up to

00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:46.640
 the exile,

00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:47.100
 the prophet

00:33:47.100 --> 00:33:47.940
 Jeremiah?

00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:48.779
 We actually

00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:49.140
 read his

00:33:49.140 --> 00:33:49.620
 words earlier

00:33:49.620 --> 00:33:50.120
 in the service.

00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:50.519
 What did he

00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:51.000
 talk about?

00:33:52.080 --> 00:33:52.500
 He'd talk

00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:52.980
 about a new

00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:54.080
 covenant where

00:33:54.080 --> 00:33:54.460
 God would

00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:55.279
 write his

00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:55.680
 law,

00:33:55.920 --> 00:33:56.380
 not on

00:33:56.380 --> 00:33:56.960
 tablets anymore,

00:33:57.039 --> 00:33:57.279
 but he'd

00:33:57.279 --> 00:33:57.600
 write them on

00:33:57.600 --> 00:33:57.840
 the very

00:33:57.840 --> 00:33:58.279
 hearts of

00:33:58.279 --> 00:33:58.779
 his people.

00:33:59.519 --> 00:33:59.759
 And in

00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:00.440
 doing that,

00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:01.779
 what would

00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:02.019
 be the

00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:02.580
 condition of

00:34:02.580 --> 00:34:03.180
 that writing

00:34:03.180 --> 00:34:03.500
 on their

00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:03.940
 hearts?

00:34:04.660 --> 00:34:05.019
 He would

00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:05.620
 forgive their

00:34:05.620 --> 00:34:06.180
 sins once

00:34:06.180 --> 00:34:06.500
 and for

00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:06.720
 all.

00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.180
 And then

00:34:09.180 --> 00:34:09.680
 Ezekiel,

00:34:09.760 --> 00:34:10.079
 the prophet

00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:10.460
 Ezekiel,

00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:10.980
 in the midst

00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:11.260
 of the

00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:11.680
 exile,

00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:12.960
 spoke about

00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:13.519
 a time to

00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:13.960
 come when

00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:14.440
 God would

00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:15.360
 actually take

00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:15.860
 out our

00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:16.300
 hearts of

00:34:16.300 --> 00:34:17.079
 stone and

00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:17.519
 give us a

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:17.860
 heart of

00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:18.900
 flesh that

00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:19.840
 actually beat

00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:21.220
 and pulsed

00:34:21.220 --> 00:34:21.960
 with the

00:34:21.960 --> 00:34:22.280
 love of

00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:23.480
 God rather

00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:23.840
 than the

00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:24.119
 love of

00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:24.579
 ourselves.

00:34:27.240 --> 00:34:27.980
 And here's

00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:28.639
 Nehemiah at

00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:29.599
 the end of

00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:30.059
 Old Testament

00:34:30.059 --> 00:34:30.799
 history saying,

00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:32.519
 God, remember

00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:33.339
 for our

00:34:33.339 --> 00:34:33.639
 good.

00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:37.219
 And in the

00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:37.679
 New Testament,

00:34:37.839 --> 00:34:38.319
 we see that

00:34:38.319 --> 00:34:38.940
 God makes

00:34:38.940 --> 00:34:39.559
 good on

00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:40.119
 his promises.

00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:42.119
 God sends

00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.759
 his son Jesus

00:34:42.759 --> 00:34:43.619
 to do what

00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:44.859
 Nehemiah could

00:34:44.859 --> 00:34:45.379
 never do.

00:34:46.779 --> 00:34:47.500
 Nehemiah could

00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:48.579
 confront and he

00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:49.400
 could correct and

00:34:49.400 --> 00:34:50.079
 he could cleanse

00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:50.819
 temple chambers,

00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:51.639
 but he could not

00:34:51.639 --> 00:34:52.400
 cleanse the human

00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:52.759
 heart.

00:34:53.500 --> 00:34:54.299
 And yet Jesus,

00:34:55.239 --> 00:34:56.179
 fully God and

00:34:56.179 --> 00:34:56.899
 fully human,

00:34:57.139 --> 00:34:57.699
 takes our

00:34:57.699 --> 00:34:58.579
 fallen human

00:34:58.579 --> 00:34:59.219
 nature upon

00:34:59.219 --> 00:35:00.399
 himself and

00:35:00.399 --> 00:35:01.559
 he obeys the

00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:02.399
 terms of God's

00:35:02.399 --> 00:35:03.419
 covenant perfectly.

00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:05.359
 And he dies on

00:35:05.359 --> 00:35:06.059
 a cross to pay

00:35:06.059 --> 00:35:06.980
 the penalty for

00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:07.519
 our covenant

00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.719
 breaking in our

00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:09.960
 place so that

00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:11.940
 now the terms

00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:12.239
 of our

00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:13.039
 relationship with

00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:14.000
 God, the

00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:14.919
 covenant can be

00:35:14.919 --> 00:35:15.440
 new.

00:35:15.719 --> 00:35:16.239
 There can be

00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:17.599
 new terms

00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:18.179
 between us

00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:18.599
 and God.

00:35:19.419 --> 00:35:19.859
 Terms that

00:35:19.859 --> 00:35:20.899
 depend not on

00:35:20.899 --> 00:35:21.859
 my righteousness

00:35:21.859 --> 00:35:22.519
 or my

00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:23.139
 obedience or

00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:23.839
 my love,

00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:25.219
 but on Christ's

00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:25.939
 righteousness and

00:35:25.939 --> 00:35:26.759
 on his obedience

00:35:26.759 --> 00:35:27.699
 and on his

00:35:27.699 --> 00:35:28.159
 love.

00:35:28.819 --> 00:35:29.099
 And through

00:35:29.099 --> 00:35:30.319
 faith in Christ,

00:35:30.619 --> 00:35:30.980
 through coming

00:35:30.980 --> 00:35:32.059
 into union with

00:35:32.059 --> 00:35:33.199
 him, we come

00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:34.099
 into his new

00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:34.519
 covenant.

00:35:35.279 --> 00:35:35.539
 And like

00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:36.519
 Jeremiah and

00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:37.359
 Ezekiel said,

00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:38.579
 and like Nehemiah

00:35:38.579 --> 00:35:39.299
 prayed and

00:35:39.299 --> 00:35:39.959
 longed for,

00:35:40.339 --> 00:35:41.799
 God remembers

00:35:41.799 --> 00:35:42.980
 and gives us

00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:44.039
 forgiveness and

00:35:44.039 --> 00:35:44.659
 a new heart.

00:35:47.759 --> 00:35:50.199
 What keeps the

00:35:50.199 --> 00:35:51.879
 fire burning in

00:35:51.879 --> 00:35:52.459
 our hearts?

00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:54.599
 What is the

00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:55.819
 real, vital

00:35:55.819 --> 00:35:57.019
 basis for this

00:35:57.019 --> 00:35:58.119
 work of

00:35:58.119 --> 00:35:59.420
 ongoing reform?

00:35:59.839 --> 00:36:00.360
 Semper

00:36:00.360 --> 00:36:01.339
 reformanda.

00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:03.779
 Correction will

00:36:03.779 --> 00:36:04.119
 help.

00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:05.900
 Courageous

00:36:05.900 --> 00:36:06.539
 leaders will be

00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:06.819
 needed.

00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:08.019
 But at the

00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:08.579
 end of the

00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:09.779
 day, it's

00:36:09.779 --> 00:36:10.759
 the reality of

00:36:10.759 --> 00:36:11.219
 the new

00:36:11.219 --> 00:36:12.639
 covenant, sealed

00:36:12.639 --> 00:36:13.179
 by the blood

00:36:13.179 --> 00:36:15.019
 of Jesus, ratified

00:36:15.019 --> 00:36:15.880
 in his resurrection

00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:16.699
 from the dead,

00:36:17.179 --> 00:36:18.339
 imparted to our

00:36:18.339 --> 00:36:19.019
 hearts by the

00:36:19.019 --> 00:36:19.599
 pouring out of

00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.119
 his spirit,

00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:21.039
 received by

00:36:21.039 --> 00:36:21.420
 faith.

00:36:21.420 --> 00:36:25.159
 above all, we

00:36:25.159 --> 00:36:25.740
 must seek

00:36:25.740 --> 00:36:27.659
 ongoing intimacy

00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:28.980
 with our living

00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:30.740
 Lord Jesus and

00:36:30.740 --> 00:36:31.360
 his abundant

00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:32.180
 grace.

00:36:32.720 --> 00:36:33.820
 That is

00:36:33.820 --> 00:36:34.260
 renewal.

00:36:37.559 --> 00:36:38.260
 Revivals are

00:36:38.260 --> 00:36:38.539
 good.

00:36:39.480 --> 00:36:40.320
 We pray for

00:36:40.320 --> 00:36:40.539
 them.

00:36:41.019 --> 00:36:41.740
 We pray that our

00:36:41.740 --> 00:36:42.740
 city will experience

00:36:42.740 --> 00:36:44.180
 a great turning to

00:36:44.180 --> 00:36:44.579
 God.

00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:46.420
 Healthy church

00:36:46.420 --> 00:36:47.159
 growth is good.

00:36:47.240 --> 00:36:47.700
 We want to see

00:36:47.700 --> 00:36:48.559
 our church and all

00:36:48.559 --> 00:36:49.240
 the churches of New

00:36:49.239 --> 00:36:50.279
 Haven grow in

00:36:50.279 --> 00:36:51.099
 breadth and in

00:36:51.099 --> 00:36:51.839
 depth, and we

00:36:51.839 --> 00:36:52.459
 want to plant more

00:36:52.459 --> 00:36:52.939
 churches that will

00:36:52.939 --> 00:36:53.599
 do the same.

00:36:54.899 --> 00:36:56.059
 Personal seasons of

00:36:56.059 --> 00:36:57.259
 spiritual zeal and

00:36:57.259 --> 00:36:58.319
 energy for God are

00:36:58.319 --> 00:36:58.659
 good.

00:36:58.739 --> 00:36:59.579
 We thank God for

00:36:59.579 --> 00:37:00.379
 them, and we want

00:37:00.379 --> 00:37:01.119
 more of them.

00:37:02.099 --> 00:37:02.959
 But as this chapter

00:37:02.959 --> 00:37:03.799
 shows us, there will

00:37:03.799 --> 00:37:06.019
 also be seasons of

00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:07.139
 drift, and we have

00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:07.979
 to be ready for

00:37:07.979 --> 00:37:08.259
 them.

00:37:10.219 --> 00:37:11.799
 And there, in those

00:37:11.799 --> 00:37:12.739
 moments when we're

00:37:12.739 --> 00:37:13.579
 tempted to settle

00:37:13.579 --> 00:37:14.699
 down into a

00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:15.879
 comfortable compromise,

00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:18.219
 it's the new

00:37:18.219 --> 00:37:18.659
 covenant.

00:37:19.239 --> 00:37:20.099
 that we have to

00:37:20.099 --> 00:37:21.519
 grasp once again,

00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:23.819
 that Jesus died so

00:37:23.819 --> 00:37:24.639
 that we might live,

00:37:24.939 --> 00:37:25.919
 that he rose again

00:37:25.919 --> 00:37:26.519
 so that we might

00:37:26.519 --> 00:37:27.519
 know we're forgiven

00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:28.839
 and accepted, that

00:37:28.839 --> 00:37:29.939
 Jesus ascended as

00:37:29.939 --> 00:37:31.000
 king, and that Jesus

00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:31.899
 will come again and

00:37:31.899 --> 00:37:33.039
 make all things new,

00:37:33.259 --> 00:37:33.959
 and that we,

00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:36.159
 friends, are his

00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:37.899
 people on earth

00:37:37.899 --> 00:37:40.359
 bearing the salt and

00:37:40.359 --> 00:37:41.519
 light of his

00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:42.059
 kingdom.

00:37:45.299 --> 00:37:46.319
 So may the Lord

00:37:46.319 --> 00:37:47.939
 Jesus be always

00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:49.019
 reforming us,

00:37:49.460 --> 00:37:50.639
 always renewing our

00:37:50.639 --> 00:37:51.700
 hearts, and may he

00:37:51.700 --> 00:37:52.720
 always be exalted

00:37:52.720 --> 00:37:53.619
 among us.

00:37:55.420 --> 00:37:56.400
 Semper reformanda.

00:37:57.480 --> 00:37:58.240
 Let's pray.

00:38:04.800 --> 00:38:05.780
 Oh, Father, how much

00:38:05.780 --> 00:38:07.860
 we need your Holy

00:38:07.860 --> 00:38:10.000
 Spirit to come down

00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:12.980
 into our hearts and

00:38:12.980 --> 00:38:13.960
 rekindle our first

00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:15.920
 love for you and for

00:38:15.920 --> 00:38:16.519
 our Lord Jesus.

00:38:19.400 --> 00:38:20.300
 God, as we take just

00:38:20.300 --> 00:38:21.180
 a moment in silence

00:38:21.180 --> 00:38:22.920
 before you, would you

00:38:22.920 --> 00:38:24.860
 come and would you

00:38:24.860 --> 00:38:25.659
 meet with us as we

00:38:25.659 --> 00:38:26.360
 prepare to come to

00:38:26.360 --> 00:38:26.800
 your table?

00:38:26.800 --> 00:38:39.900
 Amen.

00:38:41.480 --> 00:38:42.360
 Well, friends, it's

00:38:42.360 --> 00:38:44.519
 fitting that after

00:38:44.519 --> 00:38:45.700
 considering Nehemiah

00:38:45.700 --> 00:38:47.100
 13, we'd celebrate

00:38:47.100 --> 00:38:47.760
 the Lord's Supper.

00:38:49.300 --> 00:38:50.400
 Nehemiah 13 shows us

00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:51.200
 we need a new covenant

00:38:51.200 --> 00:38:52.360
 that is a relationship

00:38:52.360 --> 00:38:54.120
 with God based not on

00:38:54.120 --> 00:38:55.340
 our obedience but on

00:38:55.340 --> 00:38:56.460
 Jesus' faithful obedience

00:38:56.460 --> 00:38:57.059
 in our place.

00:38:57.619 --> 00:38:58.199
 And here at the

00:38:58.199 --> 00:38:59.539
 Lord's Supper, we

00:38:59.539 --> 00:39:01.179
 celebrate just that,

00:39:01.980 --> 00:39:03.619
 that Jesus established

00:39:03.619 --> 00:39:04.559
 this new covenant.

00:39:05.460 --> 00:39:06.760
 So we eat bread and we

00:39:06.760 --> 00:39:07.619
 remember his body

00:39:07.619 --> 00:39:08.579
 broken for us and we

00:39:08.579 --> 00:39:09.880
 drink a cup and we

00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:10.940
 remember his blood shed

00:39:10.940 --> 00:39:11.440
 for us.

00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:13.099
 And by the Holy Spirit,

00:39:13.240 --> 00:39:14.440
 Jesus promises to be

00:39:14.440 --> 00:39:16.659
 present here and to

00:39:16.659 --> 00:39:18.220
 fan the flames of faith

00:39:18.220 --> 00:39:19.059
 in our hearts.

00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:21.599
 You know, this act that

00:39:21.599 --> 00:39:22.699
 we do, do you remember,

00:39:22.780 --> 00:39:23.920
 it goes all the way back

00:39:23.920 --> 00:39:24.920
 to Jesus himself.

00:39:25.659 --> 00:39:27.099
 So as we sit here

00:39:27.099 --> 00:39:28.360
 around this table,

00:39:29.400 --> 00:39:30.860
 it's like we're sitting

00:39:30.860 --> 00:39:31.820
 in that original upper

00:39:31.820 --> 00:39:33.920
 room with Jesus as the

00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:35.700
 host and he's saying to

00:39:35.700 --> 00:39:37.079
 us, here it is,

00:39:37.180 --> 00:39:39.559
 beloved, the new covenant

00:39:39.559 --> 00:39:40.500
 in my blood.

00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:42.980
 Do this in remembrance of

00:39:42.980 --> 00:39:43.139
 me.

00:39:43.139 --> 00:39:46.940
 So if you've turned from

00:39:46.940 --> 00:39:47.799
 sin and you placed your

00:39:47.799 --> 00:39:49.579
 trust in Christ, eat with

00:39:49.579 --> 00:39:49.819
 us.

00:39:51.279 --> 00:39:52.299
 If you're a believer in

00:39:52.299 --> 00:39:53.299
 Jesus and you haven't been

00:39:53.299 --> 00:39:55.199
 baptized, don't delay.

00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:56.299
 Get baptized.

00:39:57.159 --> 00:39:58.779
 Identify publicly with your

00:39:58.779 --> 00:40:00.000
 Savior and with his people.

00:40:01.259 --> 00:40:02.119
 If you're here this morning

00:40:02.119 --> 00:40:02.960
 and you're not a Christian,

00:40:03.059 --> 00:40:03.879
 if you're not sure kind of

00:40:03.879 --> 00:40:04.920
 where you're at spiritually,

00:40:05.440 --> 00:40:06.500
 we're glad you're here, but

00:40:06.500 --> 00:40:07.920
 just pass the trays by as

00:40:07.920 --> 00:40:08.559
 they come around.

00:40:09.480 --> 00:40:10.679
 If you need help on your

00:40:10.679 --> 00:40:12.199
 spiritual journey, there are

00:40:12.199 --> 00:40:13.820
 prayers in the bulletin that

00:40:13.820 --> 00:40:14.820
 are there just as sort of

00:40:14.820 --> 00:40:17.279
 tools or means for you to

00:40:17.279 --> 00:40:18.420
 pray as you seek God.

00:40:20.219 --> 00:40:21.679
 You see, rather than taking

00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:22.699
 the bread and taking the

00:40:22.699 --> 00:40:24.980
 cup, this is a time for you

00:40:24.980 --> 00:40:25.940
 to take hold of Christ

00:40:25.940 --> 00:40:26.539
 himself.

00:40:27.360 --> 00:40:28.179
 And there are prayers there

00:40:28.179 --> 00:40:29.279
 that can help you to do

00:40:29.279 --> 00:40:30.739
 that, to come into a living

00:40:30.739 --> 00:40:32.579
 relationship with the living

00:40:32.579 --> 00:40:33.559
 Lord who loves you.

00:40:35.059 --> 00:40:36.079
 So I wonder if those who are

00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:37.000
 helping to serve would come

00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:37.420
 forward.

00:40:38.340 --> 00:40:39.300
 The way we do this at

00:40:39.300 --> 00:40:40.699
 Trinity is that we're going

00:40:40.699 --> 00:40:41.559
 to pray and we're going to

00:40:41.559 --> 00:40:44.440
 ask God his blessing as we

00:40:44.440 --> 00:40:45.280
 eat the bread together and

00:40:45.280 --> 00:40:46.199
 we'll pass it out and then

00:40:46.199 --> 00:40:46.840
 we'll eat it together.

00:40:47.380 --> 00:40:48.139
 And then we're going to pray

00:40:48.139 --> 00:40:49.119
 again before we take the

00:40:49.119 --> 00:40:49.900
 cup and we're going to pass

00:40:49.900 --> 00:40:50.739
 the cup out and we're going

00:40:50.739 --> 00:40:51.480
 to drink it together.

00:40:55.639 --> 00:40:56.460
 James, would you pray for

00:40:56.460 --> 00:40:57.059
 the bread for us?

00:41:00.159 --> 00:41:00.739
 All right, let's pray

00:41:00.739 --> 00:41:01.059
 together.

00:41:04.059 --> 00:41:05.340
 Father, we are grateful for

00:41:05.340 --> 00:41:07.039
 the new covenant that has

00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:08.200
 done for us what we could

00:41:08.200 --> 00:41:09.240
 not do for ourselves.

00:41:10.019 --> 00:41:11.059
 It has done for us what no

00:41:11.059 --> 00:41:13.140
 other human could do for us.

00:41:14.640 --> 00:41:16.059
 Thank you for this regular

00:41:16.059 --> 00:41:18.600
 reminder of the price of our

00:41:18.600 --> 00:41:20.100
 redemption and the power of it

00:41:20.100 --> 00:41:21.880
 for we are forgetful people.

00:41:22.680 --> 00:41:24.720
 We pray that as we take this

00:41:24.720 --> 00:41:27.660
 bread that you would imprint in

00:41:27.660 --> 00:41:30.600
 our hearts and you the power of

00:41:30.600 --> 00:41:31.940
 your salvation and that you would

00:41:31.940 --> 00:41:34.940
 cause us to be bold in acting

00:41:34.940 --> 00:41:37.940
 in accordance to your will, to

00:41:37.940 --> 00:41:38.440
 your glory.

00:41:38.980 --> 00:41:39.940
 We pray this in Christ's name.

00:41:40.220 --> 00:41:40.440
 Amen.